The New York Knicks extended the Indiana Pacers’ misery on Friday night, defeating the struggling franchise 101-92 in Indianapolis behind a stellar performance from guard Jalen Brunson, who contributed 29 points and nine assists in the victory.
The loss marks the Pacers’ 12th consecutive defeat, highlighting their continued struggles this season. Meanwhile, New York secured its second consecutive win, wrapping up a road trip with a 3-2 record.
Supporting Brunson’s effort, OG Anunoby contributed 25 points for the Knicks, while Mitchell Robinson dominated the boards with 22 rebounds to go along with 12 points. Mikal Bridges provided additional scoring with 11 points in the winning effort.
For Indiana, Jarace Walker paced the team with 18 points, followed by Aaron Nesmith’s 12 points and Ivica Zubac’s 11-point contribution. T.J. McConnell rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points for the Pacers.
The contest remained competitive through three quarters, with New York holding just a two-point advantage entering the final period. However, the Knicks seized control early in the fourth quarter with five consecutive points, and later responded to Indiana’s comeback attempt with a decisive 7-0 scoring run when the Pacers closed within two points.
In other NBA action Friday night, several teams posted impressive victories. Detroit dominated injury-depleted Memphis 126-110 behind Jalen Duren’s 30-point, 13-rebound performance, while Cade Cunningham distributed 15 assists alongside his 17 points.
Cleveland overwhelmed Dallas 138-105 in the opening game of a home-and-home series, with Evan Mobley scoring a season-high-tying 29 points and Donovan Mitchell adding 24 points. The Cavaliers have now won 24 of their last 34 games since December 29.
Toronto rallied from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Phoenix 122-115, with Brandon Ingram leading the comeback with 36 points. The Raptors closed the game on a 27-10 run to snap the Suns’ four-game winning streak.
Houston narrowly escaped New Orleans 107-105 despite a late Pelicans surge, with Kevin Durant’s 32 points leading the way. The Rockets survived after Jabari Smith Jr. hit a crucial corner three-pointer in the final seconds.
Minnesota ended a three-game slide by defeating Golden State 127-117, powered by Anthony Edwards’ 42-point explosion. The Timberwolves won the season series against the Warriors 3-1.
Los Angeles Clippers continued their March success with a 119-108 victory over Chicago, as Kawhi Leonard scored 28 points while matching a franchise record for consecutive 20-point games. The Clippers improved to 7-1 for the month.
Portland completed a season sweep of Utah with a 124-114 victory, getting 25 points each from Jrue Holiday and backup Scoot Henderson. The Blazers never trailed after overcoming an early 16-point deficit with a 20-0 run.
